On Friday, in the main event on ProBox TV, former world champion Can “Monster” Xu lost a split decision in his ring return against Brandon “Leoncito” Benitez. The scores were 96-94, 96-94 for Benitez and 97-93 for Xu.
Xu Can will revisit past business as he aims to work his way back into title contention. The former secondary WBA featherweight titlist will return to the ring and to the U.S. as he will next face Mexico’s Brandon Benitez. The two will collide atop the next ProBox TV card set for October 7 at ProBox Event Center in Plant City, Florida.
On May 20, IBF No. 1 Contender Meng Fanlong (17-0, 10 KOs) and former two-time world champion Jean Pascal (35-6-1, 20 KOs) meet in a 12-round clash for a top spot in the 175-pound division.
Despite all the post-fight talk of bringing big-time boxing back to Nottingham, Leigh Wood might have to travel when he next steps in the ring due to the rematch clause in his contract to fight Xu Can.
Leigh Wood stopped Xu Can in the 12th and final round to claim the WBA "regular" featherweight world title in a big upset at the top of the bill on the first week of Matchroom Fight Camp in Brentwood, Essex, live worldwide on DAZN.
Wood, Can Fight Photos Gallery - Brentwood, UK - For the WBA "regular" featherweight title, Leigh Wood (25-2, 15 KOs) stopped Xu Can (18-3, 3 KOs) in the twelfth and final round to become a champion. (photos by Mark Robinson)
By Ron Lewis - Leigh Wood pulled off a big upset as he tore the WBA featherweight title from Xu Can, stopping his 17 seconds from the end of the twelfth and final round on the opening night of Matchroom’s Fight Camp in Brentwood, Essex.
It is not lost on Leigh Wood that when he steps into the ring against Xu Can for the WBA “regular” featherweight title this weekend, he will be challenging for a world title a week before two of his biggest rivals.
By Tris Dixon - Xu Can must be careful when he meets challenger Leigh Wood in the new Fight Camp headliner because the Nottingham man has “ridiculous” punching power. Wood’s trainer Ben Davison saw his man topple Reece Mould in their first fight together earlier this year and the coach is confident ahead of Wood’s bid to dethrone Can Xu, one of the world’s best featherweights.
Xu Can, Leigh Wood Weights Photos Gallery - Kicking off three consecutive weekends of fights from Matchroom HQ, Brentwood, champion featherweight XU CAN looks to defend his WBA strap for the third time, facing off against British challenger LEIGH WOOD. (photos by Mark Robinson)